Board Thread:DMC5 Spoilers/@comment-28568301-20190312031106/@comment-1191892-20190604211537

Meshifuari Arimota wrote: Sparda was for sure powerful (way stronger than DMC 3 and DMC 1 Dante)... however it is also stated by Nico in her notes that in Sin Devil Trigger form Dante is far more powerful than the Legendary Dark Knight Sparda himself.

So while he was strong... DMC 5 and probably DMC4 Dante would be able to defeat him rather easily. I'm fairly sure she only says he might be more powerful.